FirstOntario Centre Renovations | ?m | 4s | OVG | BBB

[innsertnamehere]

This is a major deal in Hamilton. The City is getting a private consortium to renovate and take over the aging FirstOntario Centre (Copps Coliseum), as well as more minor renovations at the Hamilton Convention Centre, art gallery, and Concert Hall, in exchange for three development sites the city owns surrounding the arena.

Hamilton Urban Precinct Entertainment Group L.P. is a consortium of a couple of developers including LiUNA, Fengate, Paletta, Carmens Group (a large convention / events operator in Hamilton), and a few others. They are aiming to create a new entertainment district surrounding the arena on the parcels they have, and are also actively discussing relocating the Salvation Army facility directly across York St from the arena.

Expect more on this one and the other redevelopment sites in the future. The developer is well heeled and has several reputable names, so I have high hopes for this one.

The renovations will include retractable sheathing to hide the upper bowl as most events in the arena don't use it right now (it was designed for an NHL team that never arrived).

 

[Northern Light]

Article on the above takeover/re-do from the Globe and Mail:

U.S. venue group OVG heads up Hamilton arena renovation in first Canadian project

FirstOntario Centre rebuild part of wider development plan for downtown core

www.theglobeandmail.com

A few tidbits from the above:

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[macro]

CEBL - Canadian Elite Basketball League on Instagram: "NEWS: The @honeybadgerscan will relocate to Brampton permanently due to arena closure in Hamilton. Head to link in bio for more info and to reserve priority access to tickets. #LetsBall #Bram

CEBL - Canadian Elite Basketball League shared a post on Instagram: "NEWS: The @honeybadgerscan will relocate to Brampton permanently due to arena closure in Hamilton. Head to link in bio for more info and to reserve priority access to tickets. #LetsBall #BramptonGotNext". Follow their...

www.instagram.com

NEWS: the @honeybadgerscan will relocate to Brampton permanently due to an arena closure in Hamilton.

 

[Branden Simon]

FirstOntario Centre Major Renovations has been delayed after the 2023 110th Grey Cup Here is the screenshots from the The Hamilton Spectator

 

[macro]

So their idea of what benefits the community is forcing 3 other sports teams out of an arena just to turn around and say they need to use it to raise funds for an event that is happening at another venue. Meanwhile, my Grey Cup ticket is 800% the value of my seat. Something here doesn’t pass the smell test.